Running costs

3.5 out of 53.5

PCP deals aren't great value compared with rivals

Up to £1,000 deposit contribution

SEAT Arona: 3.9% APR, £1,000 deposit contribution

Low starting prices and strong residual values are expected for the Hyundai Kona – at least for the more affordable S, SE and Premium models. As a result, those paying cash and selling the car on after a few years should have reasonably low overall costs. Top-spec Premium SE and Premium GT models do have very high cash prices, though, so these may end up being surprisingly pricey overall.

However, as a vast majority of new car buyers now use finance, with PCP being the most commonly chosen option, it’s monthly payments that are more important.

What is the Hyundai Kona MPG?

Fuel economy, meanwhile, is also a little higher than some competitors. The 1.0-litre model returns official economy a couple of mpg short of the SEAT Arona, for instance. This six-speed manual transmission is slick and accurate enough, although the ratios could be closer together, especially given the need to keep the engine in its optimum power band. Claimed average fuel economy is 54.3mpg, although you’re more likely to see around 40mpg in the real world.

The 1.6-litre petrol barely tops 40mpg. This is well off the pace against a number of similarly nippy alternatives, though most of these lack the Kona’s economy-hitting all-wheel drive system. Opt for a diesel variant, and you can expect up to 67.3mpg claimed average fuel economy.

All in all, the Kona isn’t likely to be as affordable to run as you might hope – especially if you go for a top-spec model or 1.6-litre petrol. Choose an S or SE trim 1.0-litre petrol for the lowest overall costs.

Estimated fuel cost per year

Fuel type

Pence per litre

Estimated cost per year *

Unleaded

128p

£1,164 - £1,164 *

Diesel

131p

£889 - £931 *

* The estimated fuel cost figure is based on an annual mileage of 10,000 miles and is a guide to how much this model will cost in fuel each year.
It's calculated using the model's average MPG (calculated from both town centre and motorway driving) and the average fuel price from around the country.
Actual fuel costs will vary based on driving style and road conditions.

Ongoing running costs

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered before 01 March 2001 it is based on engine size. For cars registered on or after 01 March 2001 the VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions.

Green credentials

3.3 out of 53.3

As for the more conventional powertrains, the the 1.0-litre petrol is good, but not class-leading, and the 1.6-litre is well off the pace compared with cleaner rivals. Diesel versions, which arrived in mid-2018 emit lower levels of CO2 than the petrols. Of the two engines, the 115hp 1.6-litre CRDi version is the most eco-friendly emitting 112g/km of CO2, although the 136hp derivative isn't far behind at 114g/km.

However, if you’re after a green Kona, you’ll want the excellent all-electric version - the car itself produces no CO2.

Highest and lowest
CO2 emissions

Engine

CO2 emissions

Road tax (12 months)

1.6 CRDi (115ps) Diesel

111 g/km (Min)

£140

1.6 T-GDi (177ps) Petrol

153 g/km (Max)

£140

Reliability

4.9 out of 54.9

With petrol engines and other components shared across other Hyundai and Kia models and Hyundai’s solid reputation for reliability, the Kona shouldn’t offer any nasty surprises. The diesel engines heading for the Kona come from Hyundai’s latest generation of engines, so it’s possible there may be some initial teething problems.

However, we expect most drivers to be able to have trouble-free service from the Kona. Most reliable of the lot could be the Hyundai Kona Electric: it has fewer moving parts and with less vibration, the Hyundai will likely suffer less from squeaks and rattles from the interior fittings.